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Reviews by ficha13

90

A classic and a fun game to this day

Max Payne was a game and a half when it originally came out. It was very different from a lot of games back then(heck, it's still better and more innovative than most games today) with it's Noir style, really tragic and well realized main character, a story that was expertly written and most memorable aspect, the bullet time mechanic that a lot of games would haphazardly try to copy or imitate. You use the mechanic by slowing down time and/or jump-dodging and shooting enemies. The meter besides the health bar represents how much time you can spend in this mode and you fill the meter up by shooting enemies. This makes the game a bit tactical at moments and makes you carefully plan out your attack strategy. To help you in your struggle is a huge arsenal of weapons that you progressively unlock through the game. You start from simple pistols and shotguns and move on to bigger and better stuff. The weapon choice really is huge and really varied and a bunch of them have their own little attributes which makes them very useful in certain situations. Luckily, the game also has a save feature that allows you to save at any moment, a rarity these day, which can make the game a tad easier at moments. I say a tad because even with that, the game is really hard. Not punishingly hard but it won't certainly allow you to run out in the open and shoot everyone up like insert 80's action hero here. Aside from successfully introducing the mechanic into gaming, it has a well written story and interesting characters which are presented through stylish cutscenes that are presented as graphic novel panels. The voice acting in these scenes are always top notch and the writing never loses it's touch. There are a lot of twists and turns as the story progresses and I can say with certainty that the ending will leave you satisfied. In conclusion, Max Payne, in my opinion, is one of the best third person shooters ever made, a classic that has stood the test of time and a game that is well worth you're money. Also there's a huge modding community that is still making various stuff from simple weapon mods to full conversion mods with new maps, stories and sometimes game mechanics.

80

In the vain of LucasArts games

If you are a fan of old point & click games, especially Lucas Arts, you will probably love this game. It's inspired by their games of old, and sports a similar sense of humor only a bit more crass. It's very well written, has really good puzzles, and is very entertaining. Some of the solutions can be a bit obscure which can be taken as a positive or negative considering that LucasArts did the same thing back in the day. The second game, "Time Gentlemen, please!" will especially give you a challenge as it progresses.
The only minus is that both games are a bit on the short side with the first one lasting about 3 hours and the second one taking a bit more time, about 5-7 hours, but considering the price and quality of the game, I have to say it's a steal.

80

It's really dumb... but I enjoyed it...

Goat Simulator is dumb. It's a buggy mess, it glitches all the time, the map is too small, the physics is all sorts of bad, there is little to do, and like I said, it's really dumb. But it's also extremely fun! The creators themselves admitted that they made game in their free time and wanted to make it the way it was. The gameplay consists of you exploring, jumping, spinning in mid air, doing backflips and licking, dragging and killing things like dumb NPC's or trucks. Also you can blow up a lot of stuff. There are also a bunch of items you can use and also some secret places that improve your goat in all sorts of ways. And that's about it.
The music is also really janky, but in a positive way. It will REALLY get stuck in your head. Like I said previously, the game is short. You can finish and find everything in about an hour or two and that's about it, but if like messing around with the physics and flailing your goat all around the place, you might get an extra kick out of it. Also, they are patching the game non stop and adding new things, like for instance a totally new map and split screen co-op play! While there are currently only two maps available, there is a custom map option in the menu, so you can expect a bunch of them in the near future :)

80

Innovative, fun, awesome and long enough

Tiny and Big is a short and fun game with an interesting gimmick. The game mechanics relies on cutting stuff and making or clearing up the path so you can progress further. It's basically like the system in Metal Gear Solid if you want a comparison. The feel of it is really great and really makes what could have been a boring game, very fun. The art and soundtrack is also awesome, the design and art looks like a darker version of Adventure Time mixed with Aztec structure art. Also there are tutorial moments where you play on what is basically a gameboy and they look awesome. They have the classic green screen look and really good 8-bit music. The soundtrack is also very cool. It's a mix of genres and instruments and will keep reminding you of music from the '60's and '70's.
Tiny & Big Grandpa's Leftovers is a really interesting indy game with a very innovative concept that is solidly brought to life, awesome soundtrack and a lot of charm. It might not be all that long, but it is sweet and indeed worth your time.

85

Improves and enhance's everything from the first game

Before I start the review, I have to admit that this is a game from my childhood but that I'll try the look at it as objectively as possible.

First, the graphics:
This is not a pretty game nowadays, It's not horrible looking or anything but modern gamers might not like it. For the time it had really good graphics with realistic lighting and huge detailed levels. Again I repeat, for the time.
Aesthetically it's pretty amazing, it has various environment's that have their own charm that are accompanied by a minimalist soundtrack that heavily relies on ambient noises. This really adds to the atmosphere, and really pulls you in.

The gameplay also might turn off gamers. Lara controls a bit tank like, kind of like older resident evil games, but it is a bit maneuverable and easier to control and the 3rd person camera helps as well. The jumps can be tricky at times, especially if you're a first timer, but thankfully you can save anytime, and there's no checkpoint bull like in the PS1 version of the first game or even modern games. Also, everything from the previous game returns and whole lot more.
More enemies, weapons, moves and they also added vehicles you can actually drive like boats and snowmobiles. Thanks to the added dynamic lighting in the game they also added flares that you use in dark environments which, in my opinion, increases the immersion. Also, don't expect regenerative health. Battles must be planed out and searching for medkits is a must if you don't want to make it harder on yourself and die a lot later in the level. Weapons are fun to use, but watch your bullets when getting other better ones. The pistols have unlimited ammo but are the weakest weapons in the game, but the rest can be really powerful but have limited ammo. Puzzles and key items are back and sometimes it might be a chore figuring what to do next, but is never too complicated and is always gratifying when you do find out what to do.

In conclusion, the game is fun but challenging but certainly isn't for everyone. If you want a more streamlined and easier adventure/platforming game in the series, try the modern ones like TR: Legend, Anniversary and Underworld.
If you ever played an old Tomb Raider game, you'll know what to expect, but if you're a newcomer, check out the demo of the game so that you know if it's for you/

85

Fun platformer, just don't go expecting old school tomb raider

Legend is a really fun game, and a fun modern platformer. Gone are the characteristic wonky controls(that i love) and here we have really fluid controls and gameplay that really reminds me of the prince of persia trilogy, which is a good thing. Also, added is the grapple hook that helps you move objects out of the way and, of course, get across chasm's. Puzzles are back and are really fun to do. It's kind of linear compared to old games, but I honestly don't have problem and I'm kind of sick of open world games that have become really boring and monotone.

The graphics still look really nice today, and compliment the game perfectly. Levels look really pleasing to the eye, and you explore a variety of locations, going from jungles and caves to abandoned buildings and soaring skyscrapers.

Music is also very fitting, it can go from calm and peaceful to epic, depending if you're in combat or just climbing and it just clicks with the atmosphere of the game.

It's not a long game, takes around 6,7 hours to finish, but is fun and really worth buying when it's on sale.

90

Just play it

Batman Arkham Asylum is an amazing game. It has fun, but simple and challenging combat, an awesomely realized world and great voice acting. Luckily for us they got the cast from the original animated show, and boy do Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy do their jobs well.

The gameplay is really thought out well and has a lot of variety which stops it from getting monotone and boring. It primarily focuses on combat and exploration, but adds also Riddler's trophies and riddles that are scattered all around the asylum. If you're a completionist you will really like this, if not, just collect them normally as much as you can through the story mode. It's not really worth collecting all of them for the bonus you get in the story mode. You get an audio recording that's maybe a minute long and doesn't really add to the story or anything, but it's worth finding them because by doing this, you unlock challenge maps that you can access through the main menu. They are split into combat missions and sneaking mission in which you try to rack up as much points as possible that are updated to the leaderboards. The game of the year edition also adds additional maps that you don't have to unlock. Besides this, there are also Scarecrow sections where he drugs Batman and they are really trippy and abstract where batman has to avoid his gaze and sneak up behind him. The boss segments are also cool, they change the gameplay a bit and sometimes don't really involve fighting hand to hand which you will see in the in the Killer Croc segment.

The graphics are really good, loads of details through the whole game and aesthetically it feels just good and has good game feel. The Physx effects also add to the game and turn them on if your computer can handle it, it's especially worth it for the scarecrow parts.

The story is relatively simple, but well written and the characters are faithfully recreated here. By far, the best character is, no surprise, the joker, but the rest of the cast also do a real fine job and are all memorable.
Game time is also around 10 hours, at least in my case. It depends if you want to collect all the collectibles/trophies. If you choose to do this, it will probably take you longer, unless you're an expert in these sort of things.

The only gripe I have with the game is the ending. Won't spoil it, but it kind of doesn't really make any sense, a character does something that he would never do and it's kind of ridiculous.

Anyways it's an awesome game, comes recommended with flying colours

90

It comes recommended, but has a couple of issues...

This game is a must play. It's immersive, fun, has awesome characters and a really well developed world that lives lived in. It has great writing, Elizabeth is one of the best companions ever written and seen in a video game and keeps your attention from beginning to end. But...The gameplay is dumbed down compared to the previous games. The stealth element is completely gone here, you can't even try to sneak behind the enemy, they immediately know you're there if you try.
Vigors, plasmids in Infinite, are ok, but most of them don't seem to have a practical use and some of lack the punch when use them. You will end up using just 2 or 3 of them through the whole game because of this fact.
Also lockpicking is gone for some reason. Some people liked it, some hated it, I personally enjoyed it and thought it brought variety to the game.
Now, don't get me wrong, the game is still amazing, and the gunplay is pretty awesome and fun, but this drags the game down a bit, and you'll be thinking a couple times while playing it about why the striped the game so much compared to the original Bioshock

80

Fun and enjoyable

Dungeon Siege III is a really fun game, can't compare to the previous ones cause I didn't really play them, but I personally had a lot of fun with it. There isn't a lot i can say about the game, it's a hack and slash game in the vein of diablo and torchlight. If you like those games, this might be your cup of tea.
If your a fan of the previous ones, check some other reviews on youtube or something. Some fans really did not like it, so better check a bit more before buying it!

90

Probably the best in the series, besides Bloodmoney

Hitman 2 is an example of a excellent sequel. The first one had an interesting concept and was extremely fun for the time, but unfortunately hasn't aged well. The sequel takes all the elements that made first one amazing and fixed all the little quirks and bugs. Bigger environments, better weapons, improved sneaking, more, better and interesting ways to dispose of your targets and a whole load of fun. Add good voice acting, an interesting (albeit simple) story and great aesthetics and you have a really interesting game. It does have a bit of a learning curve, but it's not as punishing in other games and if you like, you can always go guns blazing if a level starts getting on your nerves

90

Really awesome game

One of the best stealth games released in the previous decade. To this day it remains fun and entertaining with loads of missions, various weapons and it has really good replay value. You can play the game in a number of play styles, from stealthy where you try to eliminate only the target with as less casualties as possible to psychotic where you just go killing everybody in the level. You can also do something in the middle if you like, it all depends on the player's choice and it works perfectly. Good graphics for it's time, solid AI, huge levels and loads of variety. Could not recommend the game more, especially if you're a stealth fan.

75

Fun and works fine now with the new patches

Sniper is a very innovative and fun game, but sometimes has bad level design and the ai is at times idiotic. It has a lot of potential, the mechanics of the game are very fun and it has every kind of difficulty, insuring that casual and hardcore gamers will enjoy it. Graphics are solid, the jungle environment is great but textures look kind of bad when you get too close to some surfaces.
Overall, buy it while it's on sale, you won't regret it, just don't except polish like in big budgeted games.

80

Very fun, but hard

The first necrovision game was a real blast, it had fun game mechanics, cool enemies, a really good setting and a dumb entertaining, b-movie plot. You killed waves of enemies that went from soldiers to demonic beings with a ton of weapons, which included a demon arm and magic . Also you rode an f'ing dragon.
Necrovision Lost Company is basically more of the same, and thankfully, the developers fixed some issues, added some weapons, new enemies and plane sections.
If you liked the original one, pick this one up with no worries :)

80

Actually, pretty fun

Ninja blade is an awesome, action packed game with cool as f' combat and cool as f' gameplay. The graphics are solid, nothing special here, but not a bad looking game and the controls work pretty nicely. For the best experience get a controller. Now, it's not a perfect game. it has some flaws such as the enormous amount of quicktime events and game glitches, but damn, the scope of the game, the crazy, funny and stupid ass story and just plain fun you will get it is worth the price tag of the game. Especially when it's on sale.